arm

[ ahrm ]

/ ɑrm /

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noun

the upper limb of the human body, especially the part extending from the shoulder to the wrist.

the upper limb from the shoulder to the elbow.

the forelimb of any vertebrate.

some part of an organism like or likened to an arm.

any armlike part or attachment, as the tone arm of a phonograph.

a covering for the arm, especially a sleeve of a garment: the arm of a coat.

an administrative or operational branch of an organization: A special arm of the government will investigate.

Nautical. any of the curved or bent pieces of an anchor, terminating in the flukes.

an armrest.

an inlet or cove: an arm of the sea.

a combat branch of the military service, as the infantry, cavalry, or field artillery.

power; might; strength; authority: the long arm of the law.

support or protection: He had always been there when I needed a strong arm to lean on or a word of counsel.May you take comfort knowing she is in God's loving arms.

Typography. either of the extensions to the right of the vertical line of a K or upward from the vertical stem of a Y.

OTHER WORDS FOR arm

12 reach.

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Question 1 of 7

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Idioms about arm

an arm and a leg, a great deal of money: Our night on the town cost us an arm and a leg.

arm in arm, with arms linked together or intertwined: They walked along arm in arm.

at arm's length, not on familiar or friendly terms; at a distance: He's the kind of person you pity but want to keep at arm's length.

in the arms of Morpheus, asleep: After a strenuous day, he was soon in the arms of Morpheus.

on the arm, Slang. free of charge; gratis: an investigation of policemen who ate lunch on the arm.

put the arm on, Slang.

to solicit or borrow money from: She put the arm on me for a generous contribution.
to use force or violence on; use strong-arm tactics on: If they don't cooperate, put the arm on them.

twist someone's arm, to use force or coercion on someone.

with open arms, cordially; with warm hospitality: a country that receives immigrants with open arms.

Origin of arm

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English earm; cognate with Gothic arms, Old Norse armr, Old Frisian erm, Dutch, Old Saxon, Old High German arm (German Arm ) “arm,” Latin armus “shoulder” and arma (neuter plural) “tools, weapons”; akin to Serbo-Croatian rȁme, rȁmo “shoulder”; Sanskrit īrmá, Avestan arəma-, Old Prussian irmo “arm”; see arm²

OTHER WORDS FROM arm

armed, adjectivearmlike, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arm

alms, arms

Other definitions for arm (2 of 6)

arm²

[ ahrm ]

/ ɑrm /

noun

Usually arms . weapons, especially firearms.

arms, Heraldry. the escutcheon, with its divisions, charges, and tinctures, and the other components forming an achievement that symbolizes and is reserved for a person, family, or corporate body; armorial bearings; coat of arms.

verb (used without object)

to enter into a state of hostility or of readiness for war.

verb (used with object)

to equip with weapons: to arm the troops.

to activate (a fuze) so that it will explode the charge at the time desired.

to cover protectively.

to provide with whatever will add strength, force, or security; support; fortify: He was armed with statistics and facts.

to equip or prepare for any specific purpose or effective use: to arm a security system; to arm oneself with persuasive arguments.

to prepare for action; make fit; ready.

OTHER WORDS FOR arm

8 equip, ready, outfit.

See synonyms for arm on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR arm

5 deactivate, disarm.

See antonyms for arm on Thesaurus.com

Origin of arm

First recorded in 1200–50 for the verb; 1300–50 for the noun; Middle English verb armen, from Anglo-French, Old French armer, from Latin armāre “to arm, equip,” verbal derivative of arma (neuter plural) “tools, weapons”; Middle English noun armes (plural), from Old French armes, from Latin arma (neuter plural reinterpreted as a feminine singular); akin to arm¹

OTHER WORDS FROM arm

armless, adjective

Other definitions for arm (3 of 6)

Arm

abbreviation

Armenian (def. 3).

Other definitions for arm (4 of 6)

ARM

adjustable-rate mortgage.

Other definitions for arm (5 of 6)

Arm.

abbreviation

Armenian.

Armorican.

Other definitions for arm (6 of 6)

Ar.M.

abbreviation

Master of Architecture.

Origin of Ar.M.

From New Latin Architecturae Magister

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for arm (1 of 4)

arm¹

/ (ɑːm) /

noun

(in man) either of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the wristRelated adjective: brachial

the part of either of the upper limbs from the elbow to the wrist; forearm

the corresponding limb of any other vertebrate
an armlike appendage of some invertebrates

an object that covers or supports the human arm, esp the sleeve of a garment or the side of a chair, sofa, etc

anything considered to resemble an arm in appearance, position, or function, esp something that branches out from a central support or larger massan arm of the sea; the arm of a record player

an administrative subdivision of an organizationan arm of the government

power; authoritythe arm of the law

any of the specialist combatant sections of a military force, such as cavalry, infantry, etc

nautical See yardarm

sport, esp ball games ability to throw or pitchhe has a good arm

an arm and a leg informal a large amount of money

arm in arm with arms linked

at arm's length at a distance; away from familiarity with or subjection to another

give one's right arm informal to be prepared to make any sacrifice

in the arms of Morpheus sleeping

with open arms with great warmth and hospitalityto welcome someone with open arms

verb

(tr) archaic to walk arm in arm with

Derived forms of arm

armless, adjectivearmlike, adjective

Word Origin for arm

Old English; related to German Arm, Old Norse armr arm, Latin armus shoulder, Greek harmos joint

British Dictionary definitions for arm (2 of 4)

arm²

/ (ɑːm) /

verb (tr)

to equip with weapons as a preparation for war

to provide (a person or thing) with something that strengthens, protects, or increases efficiencyhe armed himself against the cold

to activate (a fuse) so that it will explode at the required time
to prepare (an explosive device) for use by introducing a fuse or detonator

nautical to pack arming into (a sounding lead)

noun

(usually plural) a weapon, esp a firearm

Word Origin for arm

C14: (n) back formation from arms, from Old French armes, from Latin arma; (vb) from Old French armer to equip with arms, from Latin armāre, from arma arms, equipment

British Dictionary definitions for arm (3 of 4)

ARM

abbreviation for

adjustable rate mortgage

British Dictionary definitions for arm (4 of 4)

Arm.

abbreviation for

Armenia(n)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with arm

arm

In addition to the idioms beginning with arm

arm and a leg
armed to the teeth
arm in arm

also see:

at arm's length
babe in arms
forewarned is forearmed
give one's eyeteeth (right arm)
long arm of the law
one-armed bandit
put the arm on
shot in the arm
take up arms
talk someone's arm off
twist someone's arm
up in arms
with one arm tied behind
with open arms

arm

OTHER WORDS FOR arm

Idioms about arm

Origin of arm

OTHER WORDS FROM arm

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arm

Other definitions for arm (2 of 6)

OTHER WORDS FOR arm

OPPOSITES FOR arm

Origin of arm

OTHER WORDS FROM arm

Other definitions for arm (3 of 6)

Other definitions for arm (4 of 6)

Other definitions for arm (5 of 6)

Other definitions for arm (6 of 6)

Origin of Ar.M.

Words related to arm

British Dictionary definitions for arm (1 of 4)

Derived forms of arm

Word Origin for arm

British Dictionary definitions for arm (2 of 4)

Word Origin for arm

British Dictionary definitions for arm (3 of 4)

British Dictionary definitions for arm (4 of 4)

Other Idioms and Phrases with arm